I don't know how long Benny Louie has been here. From reviews on Yelp, it sounds like two generations. When I went in to ask about the closure, the sad young man at the counter didn't want to talk about it.

One Yelp reviewer who's a regular had this to say:

"Been going to Benny's for ages...when Benny's father used to run the shop. They've been around for so long, and Benny's can't wait till the day he retires and go fishing! But if that were ever to happen, I am sure Cindy will continue to make this place even better."

Gentrification appears to be a deliberate, strategic, and malicious social-engineering conspiracy judging by the way this site describes the dilemmas being experienced by these long-standing small businesses.

When I finished grad school and first moved to Manhattan in 1988, Benny's was one of the first businesses that I frequented in the neighborhood. When I'm back in the Village, I always gravitate toward the fewer and fewer places that were around back in the day.

I was in Chicago a few weeks ago and noted that many more of the small independent retail stores that I remember from 20 years are still operating and thriving. While I understand the economics connected with the very different real estate markets in the two cities, I feel that New York suffers greatly in comparison.

Greed is a malevolent force. The commercial landlords have stolen the character of my home city. I hope they're enjoying their boats and their golf games.

Cooper Laundry was a self service place that went out of business recently. They were on 1st Avenue near where Ess-A-Bagel was. I heard that they closed abruptly due to a rent increase and shuttered with some people's wash left inside. In this area there are still a few laundries (mostly on the streets) but fewer that allow self service (mostly on the avenues.) Makes it hard for people who like to do their own wash. I guess the tourists just leave their wash outside the hotel room door for pickup and the one percent just buy new clothes.

This is what I learned from speaking with the laundry's co-owner, Bennie Louie's wife, Cindy.

The longtime building owner wants to sell this and two adjacent properties, and is removing all the residential and commercial tenants, including the laundry, a deli, and a dog-care salon. Cindy heard that 25 jobs will be lost--though presumably new jobs will be created by businesses that open in the future. But demolishing the buildings, establishing plans, getting permits, and doing the construction: that will take a few years.

In January the Wall Street Journal observed that this block has "graduated to luxury housing": "Many developers have been busy converting old parking garages and other former commercial buildings into large, multimillion-dollar luxury residential units." According to Curbed NY, some of these large units are selling for upwards of $11 million.

Where's a place for a Chinese laundry in this tsunami of upscale development?

This is so sad to see Bennie leave. I started going in 2001 although I am not in NY as often nowadays. Went by the other day to see the entire block along University between 12-13 a large lot. It’s too bad there was no place for him to relocate in the neighborhood. He and his wife were great, nice people offering a needed service. I used to kid him I’d swim and send fish his way. He’d tell me he would come swim with me like he did as a child in Hong Kong.He’ll be missedBruce Goldberg

Update to my posting on May 30, a laundry did open where Cooper Laundry used to be. I don't know if they allow self service, I go to one nearer to me that opened last year on 26th & Second and do my own wash. Tal Bagels opened where Ess-A-Bagel was and I saw a sign on the east side of First Avenue announcing that Ess-A-Bagel would open there. So maybe there is some hope.

So, just wondering whether anyone has contact information for Benny and Cindy? They moved to a house in Queens, and according to Cindy, they will still handle dry cleaning and mending businesses out of their new home, but I lost their phone number.Thanks